....Why?!

This was the response from my group of ESL students (with many Hondurans included) upon telling them my Peace Corps plans. To most, it seemed unfathomable that anyone would want to live for 2 years in a place from which many try to leave. In truth, while I'm lucky to have full endorsement from friends and fam (even Gram), I still understand those folks whose reactions are less than supportive. It's a big, scary, uncertain step. Judging from my reading material and advice from former Volunteers, it's a step towards potentially ugly stuff: frustration, loneliness, boredom, malaria pills, stomach parasites, bad acne (they really do warn us about this), nasty rumors, cross-cultural tensions and gringa stereotypes. Oh my!

So, you ask, WHY?!?!?!?!

Well let's see... because this is something I've wanted to do for a while. Because I remember my year abroad, and how much I'd learned simply as a result of leaving home. Because I know too many people (including some of the brightest and wisest folks I've ever met) who've said their PC experience was one of the best times of their lives. Because this experience would trump any desk job I can think of. Because if I don't do it now, I'm afraid I never will. And because I know this will change me for the better.

THAT'S why!

So for now, I'm spending these next 3 months (94 days, but who's counting) trying to prepare myself as much as humanly possible for this big, scary, uncertain step into the unknown. Stomach parasites, hurray!!!!